knock, knock!

nevin st - brooklyn - map it here
No idea who could possibly show up behind that door. I did no knock. I did not dare. But I thought the door was cute is a weird way. In the middle of a somewhat industrial block, it was bright, lively, and popped against all the grey that surrounded it. The perfect amount of loud and outrgeous. And the weeds added a lovely touch.

an inauspicious sky

manhattan island viewed from brooklyn heights
When the end of August is near and fashion week is approaching, rain, wind and angry skies are to be expected in New York. It's pouring today and our weekend should be more of the same.
This is a picture of the Financial District taken from Brooklyn Heights about a month ago. I thought the atmosphere was perfect for today's weather mood.
Here, another one. Before the big cloud took over the sky.

that crazy little back house in red hook

26 reed st - red hook, brooklyn - map it here
It's a little black house in an almost empty street in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

A little back house outrageously decorated with maritime artifacts. Which reminds us that Red Hook was once home of Brooklyn longshoremen and other blue-collars.

A little black house that you just can't help admire, that makes you wonder and smile.


To learn more about the little black house, don't miss:
• http://nyportraits.blogspot.com/2009/07/ralph-in-red-hook-brooklyn.html
For ideas of things to do in Red Hook:
• http://brooklynbased.net/everything/red-hook-day-trip
To learn more about Red Hook:
• http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/redhookjustice/redhook.html
• http://www.redhookwaterfront.com

shoot the freak

shoot the freak - coney island, brooklyn - map it here
From one scary place to another...
Today, Coney Island where you can "shoot the freak".
Oh fun! Well they don't call it "entertainment for the hole family" for nothing. The "hole family", what a subtle sense of humor. Oh boy.
So how much to shoot the freak, you ask? Well, here's the pricing list!

And in case you think it's super expansive "and stuff", let me remind you that the freak is a live human target in this lovely paintball game. What next? Shooting bears out of an helicopter maybe? Nah... that would really be too freaky, wouldn't it?

If you want to want to see how it works, head over here for a good selection of amateur videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i_Pzeq_4aI

home tweet home

carroll gardens - brooklyn - map it here
After yesterday's picture, I feel I have to rehabilitate Carroll Gardens and show you a lovely entrance. See, someone told me it used to be Gotti's neighborhood. I have even heard that it is one of the best place to leave your car unattended in the city. It will be well guarded. But I am a nice person, you know. I don't want any trouble. So here is another one to show you how hospitable the neighborhood is. Isn't this just darling?

wild in brooklyn

carroll gardens, brooklyn - map it here
As you can see, Brooklyn is a wild place. In the middle of a nice stroll in Carroll Gardens, I came face to face with this beast. Right there. In front of a quiet brownstone. It was watching me. Insolently. Needless to say, I was on my way. Quickly.

almost like a model

manhattan viewed from Jersey City, NY
I was visiting a client in Jersey City last week and took advantage of this mini-trip to snap a few pictures. It always strikes me how unreal the city looks from "the other side". Especially on pictures. Doesn't it looks almost like a model? Almost fake. Which is why I had to make sure I captured one of the commuter ferries of NY Waterways. But still...

sunset glow

riverside park - upper west side - map it here
See that red glow on the tunnel brick wall? It's the reflection of the sunset I showed you yesterday. At the end of this tunnel, you'll find stairs going down to the lower part of Riverside Park along the Hudson River.

late run along the river

boardwalk along the hudson - upper west side,
What a nice way to end a summery day: a late run along the river when the air is a little fresher. And the sunset as a bonus. Did I tell you I love my neighborhood?

lazy picture du jour

w80ish - upper west side - map it here
A quick one today. This is not my street... wait, maybe it is... hmm, maybe not ... well, in any case it is very close. Just a few blocks away. Cute no? I love my neighborhood.

one stop shop

1 E60th st. (CPE) - map it here
Ok, I get it. Carrot juice is not your thing. And it's a bit late for that cup of Brooklyn coffee I showed you on Monday. But what about something more ubiquitous ? A bottle of water ? A can of soda ? Or a little juice ? A sport drink ? Maybe you're not thirsty? That's fine: we have pretzels, hot dogs, kebabs, ... No? I'm giving up. Just walk to The Pierre and get yourself a cup of tea. Which is, trust me, a very good idea.

tchin-tchin!

• zing cocktail: apple, carrot and ginger
• yam & taro fries
gobo - 1426 third avenue - http://www.goborestaurant.com/ues

Green is very hip right now and is a theme for new trendy restaurants. Last weekend, I had lunch at a cute little Asian fusion slash vegetarian restaurant named Gobo (see address and website below the picture). Almost everything on the menu seemed mysterious and exciting. Who knew eating vegetables and drinking carrot juice could be a culinary adventure? Well, it's one very easy to throw yourself into during the summer, with all the produce at their peak. This juice cocktail was absolutely delicious. And look at those colors! Gorgeous.
And this appetizer was so... hmmm.... yum!! I need to figure out how to do this myself.

• avocado tartare with wasabi lime sauce

a little cup of coffee to start the week?

root hill café - 262 fourth ave. @ carroll st. - brooklyn, ny - map it here
Well, coffee's on me this morning. Take this big cup of java, still smoking although I took this picture over a month ago in Brooklyn. Happy Monday ! :)

take a seat!

a sculpture of lawn chairs, jason peter - times square - map it here
Times Square has been turned into sort of sundeck for these summery months: traffic is rearranged to leave place to pedestrian plazas, garnished with colorful plasic lounge chairs. Perfect for tourists to rest their tired feet from all the touristy things and to take a little sunshine. Which is quite ironic considering the amount of rain we've been spoiled with.
I don't know when it took place exactly but these plastic lounge chairs left the street to be part of this amusing "sculpture of lawn chairs" by Jason Peter.

no dogs, no bikes, no carriages

central park revervoir - map it here
Put your sneakers on and join me for a loop or two around the réservoir! Come on! Let's go!!!

a foot in the window

somewhere on 81st Street, between Madison and Park Avenue
Yes, it's a giant foot. In the little courtyard, right in front of a house in the Upper East Side.

power walking the réservoir

central park revervoir - map it here
After work, you can find many New Yorkers running, jogging, biking, skating and power walking in Central Park. It's a great way to release the stress of the day. And as you can see from the picture above, a nice opportunity to enjoy the skyline as well. I think we're on the West Side looking to the East Side. I think. But hey, it's late. Do you see the moon in the sky? Time to go home and call it a day.

sunday flowers

zinnia from the farmers market
Sunday is when the farmers market takes place in the Upper West Side. It's of course one of my favorite things to do in the morning. Eggs, milk, organic bacon, fruits and vegetable from our friends of the Garden State (NJ), honey harvested on the New York roofs, plants and flowers, ... It sure beats any supermarket. I brought those colorful zinnia home last week.

I thought I would share with you this little clip of The New York Times, about people watching at the Union Square farmers market. Enjoy! And don't forget to visit your local farmers market.
(click to access the video)

zipping through the night

7th ave. - anywhere between W.Houston & W27th St.- how's that for precision?
Yes, it's August already. Isn't that amazing? The summer is zipping away. Just like this firetruck zipping through a summer evening about a week ago. This is my selection for this month theme (night).
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. Enjoy!